Yorkshire paceman Jack Brooks firing up to face old club

Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale has described Jack Brooks as “a real asset” to the county as he prepares to face his former club Northamptonshire in the LV= County Championship at Headingley on Sunday.

The 29-year-old pace bowler left Wantage Road after three seasons of first-class cricket to join the white rose club ahead of 2013.

Brooks, who only made his first-class debut in 2009 aged 25, has played in friendlies against Northants in each of the last two pre-seasons.

He had a productive first campaign with Yorkshire last summer thanks to 34 championship wickets in 11 matches, added to 13 from eight in Twenty20 – although he was frustrated by six weeks out with a broken thumb from May onwards.

The ex-England Lions player returned 1-92 from 23 overs in this week’s four-day draw against Somerset at Taunton.

Gale said: “I think Jack did really well last year. He was a bit unlucky with injury when he broke his thumb because he was just about hitting his straps.

“He’s still got a bit of work to do on consistency but he’s been a lad who’s fitted in really well. He’s a real asset to us.

“His career suggests he got injured quite a bit when he was at Northants and that was a bit of a concern when we signed him.

“He got injured last year with his broken thumb – but it wasn’t an injury to his Achilles that he’s had in the past.

“He’s definitely got fitter and stronger since he’s been here and he takes good care of himself.

“He can come on and change the game in one spell. He bowls a quick, heavy ball.”

Moxon said: “Joe is making significant progress. He has started to bat against seam bowling, so he has upped his ability to bat from just spin to all types of bowling. He is also starting to catch tennis balls.

“If he has a good week, we will assess where he is at. He won’t be too far away from playing again.”

Tim Bresnan is also expected to be available to play in early May – a week later than Root – after being ordered to rest by the ECB.